Seven Deadly Things

that come between you and the art you want to make

This is the first long thing I️ drew after the baby was born. I’m interested in how work comes out differently while you’re occupied with a baby - it’s way driftier, you expect readers to understand more without your having to spell it out. This type of work is more fun to make; you feel a bit high. I️ also think it’s objectively less good - harder for anyone to understand. There’s also, let’s be honest, less of it. If I️ make one small thing a day lately I️ consider myself a great success.

Looking at this thing I’m about to post, I️ have no idea why I️ made it - it’s an exorcism of all the different blocks that can get between a person and her work. But was I️ feeling particularly blocked that day, that month? I️ must have been? I️ do remember vividly how fun it was to draw, though. I️ was at a cafe with the baby for the first time, sitting outside in the March or April chill, intermittently changing diapers and breastfeeding. I️ felt like I️ was skydiving. It was that fun. Then I️ came home and destroyed it by coloring it in. Lost interest before I️ could make a second draft, which is what I’d normally do - a second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth draft.

No book excerpt this week. I’ve been working at a snail’s pace on a deadline thing - deadline things are truly deadly when you’re with a baby; follow-through shouldn’t be expected of someone who has to drop everything every few minutes. All I️ want is to get back to tinkering with my (two) book projects - sheer escapism, completely outside of time. More of that for you next week, if I️ can bring myself to share it. Instead, for paid subscribers, a nice bunch of Insta-style drawings.

As always, you can buy prints here

and prints and mugs at Fishs Eddy in New York (you can call them if you’re far away, they deliver - 212 420 9020)

I’ve also been offering redrawns again - aka redrawn versions of any of my simple drawings - so email me if you’re interested in one of those. lianafinck@gmail.com